I BELIEVE 147 The Old Testament is rich in witnesses to this

CHAPTER THREE faith. the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims its eulogy
MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD of the exemplary faith of the ancestors who
"received divine approval".10 Yet "God had
142 By his Revelation, "the invisible God, from the foreseen something better for us": the grace of
fullness of his love, addresses men as his friends, believing in his Son Jesus, "the pioneer and
and moves among them, in order to invite and perfecter of our faith".11
receive them into his own company."1 The
adequate response to this invitation is faith. Mary - "Blessed is she who believed"

143 By faith, man completely submits his intellect 148 The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the
and his will to God.2 With his whole being man obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the
gives his assent to God the revealer. Sacred tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel,
Scripture calls this human response to God, the believing that "with God nothing will be impossible"
author of revelation, "the obedience of faith".3 and so giving her assent: "Behold I am the
handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me
Article 1 according to your word."12 Elizabeth greeted her:
I BELIEVE "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a
The Obedience of Faith fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the
Lord."13 It is for this faith that all generations have
144 To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to "hear or called Mary blessed.14
listen to") in faith is to submit freely to the word that
has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by 149 Throughout her life and until her last ordeal15
God, who is Truth itself. Abraham is the model of when Jesus her son died on the cross, Mary's faith
such obedience offered us by Sacred Scripture. the never wavered. She never ceased to believe in the
Virgin Mary is its most perfect embodiment. fulfilment of God's word. and so the Church
venerates in Mary the purest realization of faith.
Abraham - "father of all who believe"
"I Know Whom I Have Believed"16
145 The Letter to the Hebrews, in its great eulogy
of the faith of Israel's ancestors, lays special To believe in God alone
emphasis on Abraham's faith: "By faith, Abraham
obeyed when he was called to go out to a place 150 Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man
which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a
went out, not knowing where he was to go."4 By free assent to the whole truth that God has
faith, he lived as a stranger and pilgrim in the revealed. As personal adherence to God and
promised land.5 By faith, Sarah was given to assent to his truth, Christian faith differs from our
conceive the son of the promise. and by faith faith in any human person. It is right and just to
Abraham offered his only son in sacrifice.6 entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe
absolutely what he says. It would be futile and false
146 Abraham thus fulfils the definition of faith in to place such faith in a creature.17
Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things
hoped for, the conviction of things not seen":7 To believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God
"Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to
him as righteousness."8 Because he was "strong in 151 For a Christian, believing in God cannot be
his faith", Abraham became the "father of all who separated from believing in the One he sent, his
believe".9 "beloved Son", in whom the Father is "well
pleased"; God tells us to listen to him.18 The Lord
himself said to his disciples: "Believe in God,
believe also in me."19 We can believe in Jesus when a man and a woman marry) to share a
Christ because he is himself God, the Word made communion of life with one another. If this is so, still
flesh: "No one has ever seen God; the only Son, less is it contrary to our dignity to "yield by faith the
who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made full submission of... intellect and will to God who
him known."20 Because he "has seen the Father", reveals",26 and to share in an interior communion
Jesus Christ is the only one who knows him and with him.
can reveal him.21
155 In faith, the human intellect and will co-operate
To believe in the Holy Spirit with divine grace: "Believing is an act of the intellect
assenting to the divine truth by command of the will
152 One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without moved by God through grace."27
sharing in his Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals
to men who Jesus is. For "no one can say "Jesus is Faith and understanding
Lord", except by the Holy Spirit",22 who "searches
everything, even the depths of God. . No one 156 What moves us to believe is not the fact that
comprehends the thoughts of God, except the Spirit revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the
of God."23 Only God knows God completely: we light of our natural reason: we believe "because of
believe in the Holy Spirit because he is God. the authority of God himself who reveals them, who
can neither deceive nor be deceived".28 So "that
The Church never ceases to proclaim her faith in the submission of our faith might nevertheless be in
one only God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. accordance with reason, God willed that external
proofs of his Revelation should be joined to the
The Characteristics of Faith internal helps of the Holy Spirit."29 Thus the
Faith is a grace miracles of Christ and the saints, prophecies, the
Church's growth and holiness, and her fruitfulness
153 When St. Peter confessed that Jesus is the and stability "are the most certain signs of divine
Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus declared to Revelation, adapted to the intelligence of all"; they
him that this revelation did not come "from flesh are "motives of credibility" (motiva credibilitatis),
and blood", but from "my Father who is in which show that the assent of faith is "by no means
heaven".24 Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural a blind impulse of the mind".30
virtue infused by him. "Before this faith can be
exercised, man must have the grace of God to 157 Faith is certain. It is more certain than all
move and assist him; he must have the interior human knowledge because it is founded on the
helps of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and very word of God who cannot lie. To be sure,
converts it to God, who opens the eyes of the mind revealed truths can seem obscure to human reason
and 'makes it easy for all to accept and believe the and experience, but "the certainty that the divine
truth.'"25 light gives is greater than that which the light of
natural reason gives."31 "Ten thousand difficulties
Faith is a human act do not make one doubt."32

154 Believing is possible only by grace and the 158 "Faith seeks understanding":33 it is intrinsic to
interior helps of the Holy Spirit. But it is no less true faith that a believer desires to know better the One
that believing is an authentically human act. in whom he has put his faith, and to understand
Trusting in God and cleaving to the truths he has better what He has revealed; a more penetrating
revealed is contrary neither to human freedom nor knowledge will in turn call forth a greater faith,
to human reason. Even in human relations it is not increasingly set afire by love. the grace of faith
contrary to our dignity to believe what other opens "the eyes of your hearts"34 to a lively
persons tell us about themselves and their understanding of the contents of Revelation: that is,
intentions, or to trust their promises (for example, of the totality of God's plan and the mysteries of
faith, of their connection with each other and with one has ever attained justification, nor will anyone
Christ, the centre of the revealed mystery. "The obtain eternal life 'But he who endures to the end.'"]
same Holy Spirit constantly perfects faith by his
gifts, so that Revelation may be more and more Perseverance in faith
profoundly understood."35 In the words of St.
Augustine, "I believe, in order to understand; and I 162 Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to
understand, the better to believe."36 man. We can lose this priceless gift, as St. Paul
indicated to St. Timothy: "Wage the good warfare,
159 Faith and science: "Though faith is above holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting
reason, there can never be any real discrepancy conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck
between faith and reason. Since the same God of their faith."44 To live, grow and persevere in the
who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has faith until the end we must nourish it with the word
bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our
God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever faith;45 it must be "working through charity,"
contradict truth."37 "Consequently, methodical abounding in hope, and rooted in the faith of the
research in all branches of knowledge, provided it Church.46
is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does
not override moral laws, can never conflict with the Faith - the beginning of eternal life
faith, because the things of the world and the things
of faith derive from the same God. the humble and 163 Faith makes us taste in advance the light of the
persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is beatific vision, the goal of our journey here below.
being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of Then we shall see God "face to face", "as he is".47
himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, So faith is already the beginning of eternal life:
who made them what they are."38 When we contemplate the blessings of faith even
now, as if gazing at a reflection in a mirror, it is as if
The freedom of faith we already possessed the wonderful things which
our faith assures us we shall one day enjoy.48
160 To be human, "man's response to God by faith
must be free, and... therefore nobody is to be 164 Now, however, "we walk by faith, not by
forced to embrace the faith against his will. the act sight";49 we perceive God as "in a mirror, dimly"
of faith is of its very nature a free act."39 "God calls and only "in part".50 Even though enlightened by
men to serve him in spirit and in truth. him in whom it believes, faith is often lived in
Consequently they are bound to him in conscience, darkness and can be put to the test. the world we
but not coerced. . . This fact received its fullest live in often seems very far from the one promised
manifestation in Christ Jesus."40 Indeed, Christ us by faith. Our experiences of evil and suffering,
invited people to faith and conversion, but never injustice and death, seem to contradict the Good
coerced them. "For he bore witness to the truth but News; they can shake our faith and become a
refused to use force to impose it on those who temptation against it.
spoke against it. His kingdom... grows by the love
with which Christ, lifted up on the cross, draws men 165 It is then we must turn to the witnesses of faith:
to himself."41 to Abraham, who "in hope... believed against
hope";51 to the Virgin Mary, who, in "her pilgrimage
The necessity of faith of faith", walked into the "night of faith"52 in sharing
the darkness of her son's suffering and death; and
161 Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who to so many others: "Therefore, since we are
sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
that salvation.42 "Since "without faith it is also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so
impossible to please (God) " and to attain to the closely, and let us run with perseverance the race
fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no
that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and so giving her assent: "Behold I am the
and perfecter of our faith."53 handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me
according to your word."12 Elizabeth greeted her:
DISCUSSION 1: The Obedience of Faith "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a
CCC144 fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the
To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to "hear or listen Lord."13 It is for this faith that all generations have
to") in faith is to submit freely to the word that has called Mary blessed.14
been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by
God, who is Truth itself. Abraham is the model of CCC149
such obedience offered us by Sacred Scripture. the Throughout her life and until her last ordeal15 when
Virgin Mary is its most perfect embodiment. Jesus her son died on the cross, Mary's faith never
Abraham - "father of all who believe" wavered. She never ceased to believe in the
fulfilment of God's word. and so the Church
CCC145 venerates in Mary the purest realization of faith.
The Letter to the Hebrews, in its great eulogy of the
faith of Israel's ancestors, lays special emphasis on DISCUSSION 2: I Know Whom I Have Believed
Abraham's faith: "By faith, Abraham obeyed when To believe in God alone
he was called to go out to a place which he was to
receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not CCC150
knowing where he was to go."4 By faith, he lived as Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to
a stranger and pilgrim in the promised land.5 By God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free
faith, Sarah was given to conceive the son of the assent to the whole truth that God has revealed. As
promise. and by faith Abraham offered his only son personal adherence to God and assent to his truth,
in sacrifice.6 Christian faith differs from our faith in any human
person. It is right and just to entrust oneself wholly
CCC146 to God and to believe absolutely what he says. It
Abraham thus fulfils the definition of faith in would be futile and false to place such faith in a
Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things creature.17
hoped for, the conviction of things not seen":7 To believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God
"Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to
him as righteousness."8 Because he was "strong in CCC151
his faith", Abraham became the "father of all who For a Christian, believing in God cannot be
believe".9 separated from believing in the One he sent, his
"beloved Son", in whom the Father is "well
CCC147 pleased"; God tells us to listen to him.18 The Lord
The Old Testament is rich in witnesses to this faith. himself said to his disciples: "Believe in God,
the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims its eulogy of believe also in me."19 We can believe in Jesus
the exemplary faith of the ancestors who "received Christ because he is himself God, the Word made
divine approval".10 Yet "God had foreseen flesh: "No one has ever seen God; the only Son,
something better for us": the grace of believing in who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made
his Son Jesus, "the pioneer and perfecter of our him known."20 Because he "has seen the Father",
faith".11 Jesus Christ is the only one who knows him and
Mary - "Blessed is she who believed" can reveal him.21
To believe in the Holy Spirit
CCC148
The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the CCC152
obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing
tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, in his Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to men
believing that "with God nothing will be impossible" who Jesus is. For "no one can say "Jesus is Lord",
except by the Holy Spirit",22 who "searches CCC156
everything, even the depths of God. . No one What moves us to believe is not the fact that
comprehends the thoughts of God, except the Spirit revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the
of God."23 Only God knows God completely: we light of our natural reason: we believe "because of
believe in the Holy Spirit because he is God. the authority of God himself who reveals them, who
The Church never ceases to proclaim her faith in can neither deceive nor be deceived".28
one only God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So "that the submission of our faith might
nevertheless be in accordance with reason, God
DISCUSSION 3: The Characteristics of Faith willed that external proofs of his Revelation should
Faith is a grace be joined to the internal helps of the Holy Spirit."29
Thus the miracles of Christ and the saints,
CCC153 prophecies, the Church's growth and holiness, and
When St. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, her fruitfulness and stability "are the most certain
the Son of the living God, Jesus declared to him signs of divine Revelation, adapted to the
that this revelation did not come "from flesh and intelligence of all"; they are "motives of credibility"
blood", but from "my Father who is in heaven".24 (motiva credibilitatis), which show that the assent of
Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused faith is "by no means a blind impulse of the
by him. "Before this faith can be exercised, man mind".30
must have the grace of God to move and assist
him; he must have the interior helps of the Holy CCC157
Spirit, who moves the heart and converts it to God, Faith is certain. It is more certain than all human
who opens the eyes of the mind and 'makes it easy knowledge because it is founded on the very word
for all to accept and believe the truth.'"25 of God who cannot lie. To be sure, revealed truths
Faith is a human act can seem obscure to human reason and
experience, but "the certainty that the divine light
CCC154 gives is greater than that which the light of natural
Believing is possible only by grace and the interior reason gives."31
helps of the Holy Spirit. But it is no less true that "Ten thousand difficulties do not make one
believing is an authentically human act. Trusting in doubt."32
God and cleaving to the truths he has revealed is
contrary neither to human freedom nor to human CCC158
reason. Even in human relations it is not contrary to "Faith seeks understanding":33
our dignity to believe what other persons tell us it is intrinsic to faith that a believer desires to know
about themselves and their intentions, or to trust better the One in whom he has put his faith, and to
their promises (for example, when a man and a understand better what He has revealed; a more
woman marry) to share a communion of life with penetrating knowledge will in turn call forth a
one another. If this is so, still less is it contrary to greater faith, increasingly set afire by love. the
our dignity to "yield by faith the full submission of... grace of faith opens "the eyes of your hearts"34 to
intellect and will to God who reveals",26 and to a lively understanding of the contents of Revelation:
share in an interior communion with him. that is, of the totality of God's plan and the
mysteries of faith, of their connection with each
CCC155 other and with Christ, the centre of the revealed
In faith, the human intellect and will cooperate with mystery.
divine grace: "Believing is an act of the intellect "The same Holy Spirit constantly perfects faith by
assenting to the divine truth by command of the will his gifts, so that Revelation may be more and more
moved by God through grace."27 profoundly understood."35
Faith and understanding In the words of St. Augustine, "I believe, in order to
understand; and I understand, the better to
believe."36
 CCC162
CCC159 Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man.
Faith and science: "Though faith is above reason, We can lose this priceless gift, as St. Paul indicated
there can never be any real discrepancy between to St. Timothy: "Wage the good warfare, holding
faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals faith and a good conscience. By rejecting
mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck
of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny of their faith."44
himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth."37 To live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end
"Consequently, methodical research in all branches we must nourish it with the word of God; we must
of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly beg the Lord to increase our faith;45
scientific manner and does not override moral laws, it must be "working through charity," abounding in
can never conflict with the faith, because the things hope, and rooted in the faith of the Church.46
of the world and the things of faith derive from the Faith - the beginning of eternal life
same God. the humble and persevering
investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as CCC163
it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it Faith makes us taste in advance the light of the
is God, the conserver of all things, who made them beatific vision, the goal of our journey here below.
what they are."38 Then we shall see God "face to face", "as he is".47
The freedom of faith So faith is already the beginning of eternal life:
When we contemplate the blessings of faith even
CCC160 now, as if gazing at a reflection in a mirror, it is as if
To be human, "man's response to God by faith we already possessed the wonderful things which
must be free, and... therefore nobody is to be our faith assures us we shall one day enjoy.48
forced to embrace the faith against his will. the act
of faith is of its very nature a free act."39 CCC164
"God calls men to serve him in spirit and in truth. Now, however, "we walk by faith, not by sight";49
Consequently they are bound to him in conscience, we perceive God as "in a mirror, dimly" and only "in
but not coerced. . . This fact received its fullest part".50
manifestation in Christ Jesus."40 Even though enlightened by him in whom it
Indeed, Christ invited people to faith and believes, faith is often lived in darkness and can be
conversion, but never coerced them. "For he bore put to the test.
witness to the truth but refused to use force to the world we live in often seems very far from the
impose it on those who spoke against it. His one promised us by faith. Our experiences of evil
kingdom... grows by the love with which Christ, and suffering, injustice and death, seem to
lifted up on the cross, draws men to himself."41 contradict the Good News; they can shake our faith
The necessity of faith and become a temptation against it.

CCC161 CCC165
Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent It is then we must turn to the witnesses of faith: to
him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that Abraham, who "in hope... believed against
salvation.42 hope";51 to the Virgin Mary, who, in "her pilgrimage
"Since "without faith it is impossible to please (God) of faith", walked into the "night of faith"52 in sharing
" and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, the darkness of her son's suffering and death; and
therefore without faith no one has ever attained to so many others: "Therefore, since we are
justification, nor will anyone obtain eternal life 'But surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
he who endures to the end.'"] also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so
Perseverance in faith closely, and let us run with perseverance the race
that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer
and perfecter of our faith."53
WE BELIEVE The Language of Faith
Article 2 170 We do not believe in formulae, but in those
166 Faith is a personal act - the free response of realities they express, which faith allows us to
the human person to the initiative of God who touch. "The believer's act [of faith] does not
reveals himself. But faith is not an isolated act. No terminate in the propositions, but in the realities
one can believe alone, just as no one can live [which they express]."56 All the same, we do
alone. approach these realities with the help of
You have not given yourself faith as you have not formulations of the faith which permit us to express
given yourself life. the believer has received faith the faith and to hand it on, to celebrate it in
from others and should hand it on to others. Our community, to assimilate and live on it more and
love for Jesus and for our neighbour impels us to more.
speak to others about our faith. Each believer is
thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot 171 The Church, "the pillar and bulwark of the
believe without being carried by the faith of others, truth", faithfully guards "the faith which was once for
and by my faith I help support others in the faith. all delivered to the saints". She guards the memory
of Christ's words; it is she who from generation to
167 "I believe" (Apostles' Creed) is the faith of the generation hands on the apostles' confession of
Church professed personally by each believer, faith.57 As a mother who teaches her children to
principally during Baptism. "We believe" speak and so to understand and communicate, the
(Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed) is the faith of Church our Mother teaches us the language of faith
the Church confessed by the bishops assembled in in order to introduce us to the understanding and
council or more generally by the liturgical assembly the life of faith.
of believers. "I believe" is also the Church, our
mother, responding to God by faith as she teaches Only One Faith
us to say both "I believe" and "We believe". 172 Through the centuries, in so many languages,
cultures, peoples and nations, the Church has
"Lord, Look Upon the Faith of Your Church" constantly confessed this one faith, received from
the one Lord, transmitted by one Baptism, and
168 It is the Church that believes first, and so grounded in the conviction that all people have only
bears, nourishes and sustains my faith. one God and Father.58 St. Irenaeus of Lyons, a
Everywhere, it is the Church that first confesses the witness of this faith, declared:
Lord: "Throughout the world the holy Church
acclaims you", as we sing in the hymn Te Deum; 173 "Indeed, the Church, though scattered
with her and in her, we are won over and brought to throughout the whole world, even to the ends of the
confess: "I believe", "We believe". It is through the earth, having received the faith from the apostles
Church that we receive faith and new life in Christ and their disciples. . . guards [this preaching and
by Baptism. In the Rituale Romanum, the minister faith] with care, as dwelling in but a single house,
of Baptism asks the catechumen: "What do you ask and similarly believes as if having but one soul and
of God's Church?" and the answer is: "Faith." a single heart, and preaches, teaches and hands
"What does faith offer you?" "Eternal life."54 on this faith with a unanimous voice, as if
possessing only one mouth."59
169 Salvation comes from God alone; but because
we receive the life of faith through the Church, she 174 "For though languages differ throughout the
is our mother: "We believe the Church as the world, the content of the Tradition is one and the
mother of our new birth, and not in the Church as if same. the Churches established in Germany have
she were the author of our salvation."55 Because no other faith or Tradition, nor do those of the
she is our mother, she is also our teacher in the Iberians, nor those of the Celts, nor those of the
faith. East, of Egypt, of Libya, nor those established at
the centre of the world. . ."60 The Church's by Baptism. In the Rituale Romanum, the minister
message "is true and solid, in which one and the of Baptism asks the catechumen: "What do you ask
same way of salvation appears throughout the of God's Church?" and the answer is: "Faith."
whole world."61 "What does faith offer you?" "Eternal life."54

175 "We guard with care the faith that we have CCC169
received from the Church, for without ceasing, Salvation comes from God alone; but because we
under the action of God's Spirit, this deposit of receive the life of faith through the Church, she is
great price, as if in an excellent vessel, is our mother: "We believe the Church as the mother
constantly being renewed and causes the very of our new birth, and not in the Church as if she
vessel that contains it to be renewed."62 were the author of our salvation."55 Because she is
our mother, she is also our teacher in the faith.
DISCUSSION 1: We Believe
CCC166 DISCUSSION 3: The Language of Faith
Faith is a personal act - the free response of the CCC170
human person to the initiative of God who reveals We do not believe in formulae, but in those realities
himself. But faith is not an isolated act. No one can they express, which faith allows us to touch. "The
believe alone, just as no one can live alone. believer's act [of faith] does not terminate in the
You have not given yourself faith as you have not propositions, but in the realities [which they
given yourself life. the believer has received faith express]."56 All the same, we do approach these
from others and should hand it on to others. Our realities with the help of formulations of the faith
love for Jesus and for our neighbour impels us to which permit us to express the faith and to hand it
speak to others about our faith. Each believer is on, to celebrate it in community, to assimilate and
thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot live on it more and more.
believe without being carried by the faith of others,
and by my faith I help support others in the faith. CCC171
The Church, "the pillar and bulwark of the truth",
CCC167 faithfully guards "the faith which was once for all
"I believe" (Apostles' Creed) is the faith of the delivered to the saints". She guards the memory of
Church professed personally by each believer, Christ's words; it is she who from generation to
principally during Baptism. "We believe" generation hands on the apostles' confession of
(Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed) is the faith of faith.57 As a mother who teaches her children to
the Church confessed by the bishops assembled in speak and so to understand and communicate, the
council or more generally by the liturgical assembly Church our Mother teaches us the language of faith
of believers. "I believe" is also the Church, our in order to introduce us to the understanding and
mother, responding to God by faith as she teaches the life of faith.
us to say both "I believe" and "We believe".
DISCUSSION 4: Only One Faith
DISCUSSION 2: Lord, Look Upon the Faith of CCC172
Your Church Through the centuries, in so many languages,
CCC168 cultures, peoples and nations, the Church has
It is the Church that believes first, and so bears, constantly confessed this one faith, received from
nourishes and sustains my faith. Everywhere, it is the one Lord, transmitted by one Baptism, and
the Church that first confesses the Lord: grounded in the conviction that all people have only
"Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims one God and Father.58 St. Irenaeus of Lyons, a
you", as we sing in the hymn Te Deum; with her witness of this faith, declared:
and in her, we are won over and brought to
confess: "I believe", "We believe". It is through the
Church that we receive faith and new life in Christ
CCC173
"Indeed, the Church, though scattered throughout 181 "Believing" is an ecclesial act. the Church's
the whole world, even to the ends of the earth, faith precedes, engenders, supports and nourishes
having received the faith from the apostles and our faith. the Church is the mother of all believers.
their disciples. . . guards [this preaching and faith] "No one can have God as Father who does not
with care, as dwelling in but a single house, and have the Church as Mother" (St. Cyprian, De unit.
similarly believes as if having but one soul and a 6: PL 4, 519).
single heart, and preaches, teaches and hands on
this faith with a unanimous voice, as if possessing 182 We believe all "that which is contained in the
only one mouth."59 word of God, written or handed down, and which
the Church proposes for belief as divinely revealed"
CCC174 (Paul VI, CPG # 20).
"For though languages differ throughout the world,
the content of the Tradition is one and the same. 183 Faith is necessary for salvation. the Lord
the Churches established in Germany have no himself affirms: "He who believes and is baptized
other faith or Tradition, nor do those of the Iberians, will be saved; but he who does not believe will be
nor those of the Celts, nor those of the East, of condemned" (⇒ Mk 16:16).
Egypt, of Libya, nor those established at the centre
of the world. . ."60 The Church's message "is true 184 "Faith is a foretaste of the knowledge that will
and solid, in which one and the same way of make us blessed in the life to come" (St. Thomas
salvation appears throughout the whole world."61 Aquinas. Comp. theol. 1, 2).

CCC175
"We guard with care the faith that we have received
from the Church, for without ceasing, under the
action of God's Spirit, this deposit of great price, as
if in an excellent vessel, is constantly being
renewed and causes the very vessel that contains it
to be renewed."62

IN BRIEF
176 Faith is a personal adherence of the whole
man to God who reveals himself. It involves an
assent of the intellect and will to the self-revelation
God has made through his deeds and words.

177 "To believe" has thus a twofold reference: to

178 We must believe in no one but God: the Father,

179 Faith is a supernatural gift from God. In order

180 "Believing" is a human act, conscious and free,